Western nurse practitioner program

The curricular design assumes that education for the advanced practice of nursing requires substantial clinical experiences in aspects of the selected role, supervised by professional health care providers who have education and experience in the role, and occurring in a variety of settings.

Clinical practicum experiences in the program enable students to develop clinical experiences that meet course objectives as well as their own specific learning needs and interests. The approach to clinical practice allows for flexibility in the time and places in which clinical experiences occur. Preparation for the advanced practice of nursing rests on a foundation of generalized knowledge and practice common to all roles. The M.

The approach to these areas of study is eclectic, offering students alternative conceptualizations of the field as a basis for the analysis and critique of extant practice, theory, and research; the generation of creative alternatives to present approaches to practice; and the formulation of personal conceptual interpretations of nursing as a guide to practice, all within the context of a rapidly changing health care environment.

The advanced practice of nursing may proceed through direct care, or blended roles. Direct care roles involve management of the health care of a caseload of clients, for example, as nurse practitioner. Blended roles combine elements of the direct care and a mediated role approach, as with the clinical nurse specialist. As students move toward completing the M. All students complete a substantial clinical practicum in which they enact all aspects of the selected role under the guidance of a qualified clinical preceptor.

Seminar sessions address common places in each of the roles and promote sharing the experience and perspective of students engaged in these different roles. Master of Science in Nursing M. Then program requires completion of credits of specialized professional course work with courses organized in three components: A foundational core theory, issues, research, foundations of practice A role component specific to the selected role; and A role support component that provides a concentrated practicum experience in the selected role.

Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to sit for the national certification exam. Students in the Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist CNS option take a blend of clinical and role component courses, including hours of clinical practicum. Upon completion of the program student are eligible t sit for the national certification exam.

Students should plan to spend approximately 8 to 16 hours per week in a clinical setting. For more information, please visit the Clinical Experiences web page. Twice during each semester, students are required to convene on campus for an intensive weekend of instruction.

The weekend seminars provide an opportunity for faculty-student interaction, didactic instruction and demonstrations, student presentations, group project work, and clinical training and testing.

To view Weekend Seminars and other important college-specific dates, please view the Academic Calendar. Student performance in each course is assessed through a combination of seminar participation, written and oral presentations, and objective examination. Copyright Privacy Accessibility Feedback. College of Graduate Nursing. What are you looking for? See Listing of All Offices. Self-Directed Learning Activities The World Wide Web provides a unique opportunity to offer students individualized learning experiences that would be impossible through other media.

Clinical placements are available in a variety of settings in or near the students' communities. Students will complete a DNP scholarly project. During the last semester of the program, students are required to pass a comprehensive exam. Requirements may be in progress at the time of application but must be completed prior to beginning the program. Admission into the DNP program is competitive. Meeting minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

Only complete applications will be eligible for review. As part of the online application, the applicant needs to prepare the following:.